PACE to observe constitutional referendum in Moldova

A 15-member delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), led by Andreas Gross (Switzerland, SOC), will be in Moldova from 3 to 6 September to observe the referendum on the choice of the presidential election procedure. It is the only European parliamentary organisation which will be present in the country to carry out this observation, the press service of PACE announced.

The electorate will be asked to vote on the proposed amendment to Article 78 of the Constitution and the introduction of the direct election of the President of the Republic.

The delegation will meet the Acting President of the Republic and Speaker of the Parliament Mihai Ghimpu, leaders of political parties, the President of the Constitutional Court, the President and members of the Central Electoral Commission, and civil society and media representatives, before observing the ballot on 5 September in a sample of polling stations across the country.

The delegation will be accompanied by a member of the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s group of independent legal experts.